Nacer Chadli completed a stunning Belgium comeback to leave Japan heartbroken in their World Cup last-16 clash last night. Japan led 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining but Chadli's 94th minute winner sealed a remarkable 3-2 comeback. Meanwhile Ken Early watched Brazil's 2-0 win over Mexico, as Neymar displayed both the sublime and the ridiculous; "Brazil put up with Neymar because of moments like the one he provided six minutes after half-time to score the opening goal, a strike with an element of pantomime that showcased his skill and cunning." Today, England look to book their place in the quarter-finals with a win over Colombia, and while their manager Gareth Southgate has been trying to keep his team grounded under growing pressure, he has admitted that this is their "biggest game for 10 years".
Mayo are the greatest team never to win an All-Ireland, according to Jim McGuinness. In his weekly column this morning, he asks: "This team will live long in the memory for the perseverance and willingness to get up again and fight but for me the question is: 'what happens when our memories start to fade?'" After beating Mayo last Saturday, Kildare were drawn against Fermanagh in round four of the qualifiers. Tyrone play Cork, Armagh play Roscommon and Monaghan face Laois.
Roger Federer swatted poor Dusan Lajovic aside in three blindingly quick sets on Centre Court on day one of the Wimbledon championships yesterday. It took him only 79 minutes of brilliance to win 6-1 6-3 6-4, while Borna Coric was forced into an early exit by Russian Daniil Medvedev. On her Wimbledon return, Serena Williams ground out a 7-5, 6-3 win over world No 105 Arantxa Rus in an hour and a half. Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova are all in action today.
On Monday morning a statement from the UCI cleared Chris Froome of any wrongdoing after an adverse drugs test. Tour de France organisers had been attempting to refuse Froome entry on the grounds that his presence would be damaging for the image of their race. A Wada statement claimed that Froome had demonstrated the levels of Salbutamol found in his urine samples varied widely enough for the finding to be within a certain margin of error, and that he had been ill and had upped his dosage.
The Irish Open is the biggest golf tournament on the planet this week. While there have been no late additions, Rory McIlroy, the tournament host, and Jon Rahm, the defending champion, both feature in the world's top 10. The prize funds are in excess of €6 million and there are three places available for the Open at Carnoustie for those players not already exempt who finish in the top 10 at Ballyliffin.
